Summary:
ZIP code 38862 contains just one school: Plantersville Middle School, which serves grades 5 through 8 with 241 students in the Lee County School District. This is a high-poverty school, with 99.59% of students eligible for free or reduced lunch, and it has a favorable student-teacher ratio of 10:1. Chronic absenteeism is a major concern, affecting 33.2% of students, which is well above the district rate of 26.2% and the state rate of 23.9%.
Academically, Plantersville Middle School trails significantly behind its district and state averages. Overall proficiency was 27.5% in 2025–2026, compared with 49.7% for Lee County and 52.2% for Mississippi. The school's state ranking dropped from the 17th percentile in 2024–2025 to the 7th percentile in 2025–2026, and its star rating fell from 1 star to 0 stars. Math achievement is especially concerning: only 3.8% of 5th graders were proficient in math in 2025–2026, compared with 40.7% in the district and 49.6% statewide. Even the strongest math performance, 8th grade at 37.6%, trails the district by 10.5 points.
Despite these challenges, there are bright spots. Science is a relative strength, with 5th grade proficiency reaching 56.6% and 8th grade improving to 35.5%. Several 8th grade scores improved year over year, including ELA (from 13.2% to 25.0%) and math (from 26.4% to 37.6%). However, math dipped sharply in 5th, 6th, and 7th grades. The 10:1 student-teacher ratio means class sizes are small, which offers potential for targeted intervention. Still, poverty and chronic absenteeism remain obstacles. Parents considering this school should weigh its promising gains in science and 8th grade against the urgent need for stronger math support and improved attendance.
Thank you for your feedback!